Dr. Dwain D. Allan (Ngāi Te Rāngi, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Whakaue) studies the implicit psychological factors that underpin the actions we take—from how we deal with stress, to the products and services we buy, to whether we perform to the best of our capabilities, and beyond.
While his research spans a number of domains, much of his work to date has centred around two broad areas: the former investigates the critical human factors that shape our perceptions and responses to emergent social technology/communication products (e.g., intelligent robots, conversational agents, interactive A.I. systems, digital humans, AR/VR, Web2, Web3 apps, and more); while the latter, seeks to devise new ways these technologies might be successfully (and responsibly) utilised—refined, reshaped, and, ultimately, turned to products that are desirable, usable, and potentially meaningful in meeting the needs of human beings.
He holds a Ph.D. in Psychology and has also trained in Human Interface Technology at HIT Lab NZ. As well, he holds a Master’s Degree in Design Enterprise (covering the key disciplines of design: visual, communications, products, interactions, and environments).
On top of that, he is a member of the New Zealand Psychological Society, the New Zealand Association of Scientists, Health Informatics New Zealand (HiNZ), and New Zealand Robotics, Automation and Sensing (NZRAS).
Additionally, Dr. Allan works as a founder, advisor, and leader across a range of industry verticals. In consequence, he has a special interest in producing knowledge that is both theoretically significant and practically useful.
Dr. Allan serves as a subject-matter expert in UC’s Office of Future Learning and Development, and holds appointments as an Adjunct Research Fellow in the School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing, and as a lecturer in Human Factors Psychology.